Everyone Wants Soft Carpet!
And
it must be durable, pet friendly, resist stains and last a long time!
If
you're in the market for new carpeting but don't know where to start, the Carpet
Professor provides free expert advice, unbiased product information, a list of
trusted dealers and lots of helpful tools including printable shopping forms, charts, guides and checklists.
"With
over 30 years of experience in the flooring industry and a commitment to consumer
advocacy since 1998, my goal is to help homeowners choose wisely, avoid scams and have a successful,
stress-free carpet buying experience."
Alan
Fletcher
In order to choose wisely, avoid problems and get the best deal possible, it's important
for consumers to understand how the entire buying carpet process
works. Including:
-
Understanding
carpet and padding specifications,
-
Choosing
carpet that meets your needs and goals,
-
Avoiding
retail carpet scams and rip-offs,
-
Obtaining
accurate carpet measuring,
-
Having
your carpet installed correctly,
-
Carpet
care and maintenance requirements.
Carpet
Comparison
Getting several free
in-home estimates is the easiest way to compare products, services, measurements
and pricing. Print up several free Carpet
Shopping Forms. It's designed to help you narrow down your final choices.
Your goal is to find the perfect carpet, order the right amount, have it
installed correctly, and buy from a reputable dealer. Don't allow any salesperson to pressure you. This is a major purchase so take
your sweet time. See My Recommended
Carpet Stores Near You
Too
Many Homeowners...
-
Choose The
Wrong Grade of Carpet... Carpet that does
not meet their needs or
goals.
-
Overpay
for Materials & Labor... Because
they don't compare at least 3 bids or estimates
-
Have
Carpet Installed Poorly... Because
they don't buy from a reputable carpet dealer.
-
Void Their New Carpet Warranty... Because
they don't maintain their carpet as required.
You
shouldn't rely on a salesperson to make your carpet
and padding choices for you. If you do, and your new carpet does not perform
well, you can't
go back and blame the salesperson for giving you bad advice.
Some
folks make the mistake of
choosing new carpet based solely on cost, color or feel. There are five main carpet
specifications you need to consider. It is better to do your carpet and padding homework before
you begin shopping for new carpet.
Read on...
Carpet
Fiber Options
Choosing
the right grade of carpet is not as easy as it once was. Today
there are dozens of
different styles, grades and quality levels to choose from. Carpet
durability is based mainly upon the raw materials they use in the manufacturing
process.
Why do some Carpets last longer than others?
Understanding
carpet specifications is secret #1 to choosing new carpet like a pro! The type of fiber
you choose is the most critical factor when choosing new
carpet.
Choosing the right fiber is the First
Decision you need to make. Which Carpet Fiber will be the perfect choice for your home?
Here is some key information about carpet fibers.
Fiber
Basics:
Nylon
is the most durable synthetic fiber available today. The two most popular
nylon fibers are Anso 6.0 and Antron 6.6. Nylon resists stains and cleans easily
but is not as
soft as Sorona or Polyester. Nylon is the most costly of all synthetic fibers
and is only fiber that can be color dyed. $$$
Soft
Nylon - The popular "soft" nylon carpet styles are created by
extruding the fiber strand thinner to make it feel softer. A thinner strand is
not as strong which makes the style a bit less durable than a standard nylon.
Designed to be a less-costly option over wool. $$$$
Sorona
/ PTT (aka Triexta or Smartstrand by Mohawk) is best known for its softness and stain resistance.
Originally invented in the 1940's it was made available in the marketplace in
year 2000. Not as durable as nylon. $$$
Polyester
and PET is a less costly option but tends to mat
down quickly in medium to heavy traffic applications, especially along main
walkways, busy thoroughfares like hallways and stairs. Polyester is very soft
and stain resistant, but not as durable as Sorona. $$
Olefin
(aka Polypropylene) is a very strong fiber and is commonly used for inexpensive
looped Berber styles, outdoor grass and level-loop or cut-pile commercial grade
carpets. It's also great for damp pool areas, basements and
patios because it is moisture resistant. $$
Wool
is the most costly of all fibers easily topping $100 per square yard. It is
naturally soft and durable fiber. It is more costly to install and maintain too,
but is
well known for it's elegance and ability to last a lifetime. Learn more
about the Pros
and Cons of Wool Carpeting. $$$$$
How
Much Does Carpet
Cost?
If
you haven't checked carpet prices lately, you'll be shocked when you
see the current prices for good quality carpet and padding. Ten years ago, a medium-quality carpet,
with pad and installation, used to run about $35 a square yard, today that same
quality is over $50.
A
medium-quality 100% Nylon Carpet for a typical 2-bedroom home (100 SY or 900 sf)
now
averages $5700 with pad and installation. You can expect it to last 7 to 12
years depending on your level of foot traffic.
Nylon Carpet Cost vs. Longevity
How
Much Foot-Traffic Do You Have?
To
avoid choosing the wrong grade of carpet, start by taking my free Carpet
Foot-Traffic Test. It is a simple 6-question test to help
you determine your level of foot-traffic and choose the right grade or quality
of carpet.
Families with kids and pets
tend to have heavy foot-traffic in their home. That means choosing a grade of
carpet that is very durable. To
choose a carpet designed to tolerate your level of foot traffic, you first need to
determine your level of foot traffic. Combine that with the number of years you
expect your new carpet to last and you have a starting point for making wise
choices.
1.
What is the level of foot-traffic in your home? Low,
Medium, Moderate, Heavy?
2.
How long you want your new carpet to last? 5, 10, 15, 20 years or more?
Carpet
cost, quality, durability and longevity are all inter-connected. Combine all that with your
own unique level of foot-traffic and you can see how choosing the right grade of
carpet can
become a bit complicated.
Choosing
the Right Grade of Carpet?
It's not like it was
50 years
ago when choices were very limited and most carpets were made to last at least
20 years. Today there are thousands
of different grades, styles and quality levels to choose from. The trick
is knowing which grade will be the best choice for your home. Some
carpets are designed to wear out in less than 5 years, some are designed to take
a beating and last for 20 years or more. Use my free Carpet
Durability Guide Chart to help narrow down your choices.
What
are Carpet Remnants?
Most carpet
comes in rolls that are 12 feet wide and up to 100 feet in length. A
carpet remnant is an amount of carpet that is less than a full roll. When
part of
the roll has been sold it leaves a balance still available
for purchase, this is either called a carpet Remnant,
Roll Balance or a Roll End.
Few
homeowners know that they can enjoy new carpet at a fraction of the typical cost
for new carpet. The trick is knowing how to choose carpet remnants wisely. How To
Choose Carpet Remnants Wisely
Padding
Types and Prices
10
years ago, a decent 6-pound Rebond Pad was about $3.50 a yard. Now it's over $5. Most carpet makers now recommend using 8-pound density padding. This
link shows the various types of carpet padding, current prices and which pad
might be the best choice for your home. Carpet Padding Cost, Options and Upgrades Explained
You
rarely see it, but carpet padding does a very important job. It is the shock-absorber
for your carpet. It helps reduce the damaging effects of abrasion. It's
real easy to select the wrong grade, type, thickness or density of pad. Most
people trust the salesperson to select the right pad. This can spell disaster if
you are ill-advised.
The
carpet you select has minimum padding specifications required by the carpet
manufacturer, including type, thickness and density. Choose the wrong pad and
you can instantly void your new carpet warranty. You
don't want your padding to wear out before your carpet does. It would be wise to
invest in a good quality pad that can easily outlive the lifespan of your carpet.
Learn more about Choosing
the Right Pad.
Unnecessary
Padding Upgrades?
With
most residential carpet styles, a standard Rebond pad will usually be more than
sufficient. Don't
be easily swayed by a salesperson who says you need to spend more for an
upgraded pad or Specialized
Carpet Pad unless the carpet manufacturer requires it.
Carpet
Installation - Fees and Charges
Carpet
Installation - This is one area where you
should never skimp! Not
long ago, it was common to pay $4 to $5 per square yard
for qualified carpet installation. Installation alone for a typical 2-bedroom home
used to be
about $500. Today
you can expect to pay closer to $800 or more depending on the layout of your
home, where you live and the grade and style of carpet you select. Carpet Installation Cost and Extra Fees 2023
Finding
a qualified carpet installer is getting harder to do because there is a shortage
of experienced flooring installers nationwide. I suggest buying carpet from a
reputable locally-owned flooring store who have their own "in-house"
installation crews. You simply pay the dealer for the carpet, pad and
installation. It's easy and much safer than hiring an independent installer. How
to Find a Qualified Carpet Installer?
Carpet
at Home Depot or Lowe's?
Q.
Should I Buy Carpet from Home Depot, Costco, Empire
or Lowe's? Please
don't
fall for those TV commercials offering new carpet at ridiculously
low prices! The free carpet installation lure is
a common television advertisement by both Lowe's and Home Depot. How
much does Free
Carpet Installation really cost?
There
are many reasons why I don't recommend buying new carpet from a home improvement
warehouse. If you want a good deal on new carpet or flooring, I suggest shopping at a Reputable
Locally-Owned Carpet Store near you.
Avoid Pushy Salespeople
Unscrupulous carpet retailers often hire salespeople who will say or do just about anything to
convince you to
buy from them right now! Many of these salespeople know very little about carpet or
the products they sell. They are hired because they are good at closing the sale. That means
they don't take NO for an answer and keep pressuring you until you agree to buy
today.
This
is yet another reason why I've compiled my own Special
List of locally-owned carpet and
flooring stores to recommend to my readers. They have helpful, knowledgeable salespeople, do accurate
measuring and
provide qualified installers to get the job done right the first time. Don't let
obnoxious strong-arm salespeople push you around!
Not
quite sure if the salesperson's measurements are accurate? It is always
wise to get at least three estimates from local carpet stores. Then you can
compare prices and measurements side by side and make wise and informed choices. Learn How
to Measure for Carpet Yourself!
Print
My Free
This
guide will help you determine the durability of any carpet you are
considering, based on the manufacturers specifications.
(Click
on the image to view or print)
Stainmaster®
Brand Update
The
Stainmaster brand name, well-known for the Nylon 6.6 fiber's durability and stain
resistance, was recently purchased by Lowe's. They don't own the fiber, they
just own the Stainmaster brand name. However, the Nylon 6,6
fiber manufactured by Antron® is available at most local carpet stores under a different
brand name.
It's the
exact same fiber with all the same benefits, but it just doesn't have the Stainmaster®
brand name attached to it. Don't shop for Stainmaster carpet at Lowe's,
instead, ask your Local Carpet Store about carpet
styles they carry made with the Antron® Nylon 6,6 Fiber.
A better deal awaits!
Learn
more:
©2023
Alan Fletcher -
All Rights Reserved.
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content is the opinion of the author.
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